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Sunday, 21 April 2013

What If...

... you had a big birthday coming up in a few months? What if this birthday involved a '0'? What if you were totally flummoxed about how you could be this age (almost) as you don't feel it. On any given day you feel either 30, or 80!

What if you were asked what you would like for your birthday?

I make no secret of the fact that I do not have a sewing room of my own. The sewing room is the dining room. Only the sewing takes over and then the dining doesn't occur and we make use of the coffee table instead. We eat together as a family, just not properly sat down. Plopped on the floor is more like it. All because my sewing takes over.

So I had a think about what I would like for my birthday. Obviously I can't have this.

Or this.

So what I did ask for is part of the dining room. All we have to do is remove some stuff. Out with the girls old computer desk with the now defunct computer. Out with the rowing machine as it really is a dust collector and little else. That would give me a nice stretch of wall all for me, me, me.

I am rather excited about this.

Himself said he would build, or customise, a work station for me. Here's where you all come in. I'll tell you some of my ideas and then feel free to butt in and tell me what I really, really need. I do have a fair amount of fabric storage, or will do as I shall be nicking some more Ikea Trofast units from Emily's room. What I need is an effective work station that can be taken with us if and when we move.

Here are a few things I have thought of -

* A fold down extension table to make the unit 'L' shaped but which can be collapsed out the way when entertaining.
* A shallow drawer under the desk top to store scissors, seam ripper, etc. Maybe with a divider inside like a cutlery drawer.
* Holes in the work top to drop down the wires for the machine and the foot pedal because I hate forever tripping over these when I get up and down from my seat.
* Shelves above for storage, and pegboard for thread storage.
* A tall, narrow cupboard that could potentially store the extension table, cutting boards and the like. This could be the work table support at one end of the unit.

What else, folks? I am open to any and all advice, and then we will see what can be incorporated into the design and what will not be practical for our present situation. The idea of having a little corner all of my own is too good to be true. I must make the most of it.

Something for your ironing needs. Either a nice large surface that's permanent or something that can be set up when you need...quick and easy.What a wonderful "_0" present ;DI think I'll be getting much the same for my "_0"th too!!!I'm looking forward to the suggestions you'll be getting so I can borrow some ;)

having spent time bent over a standard dining table, cutting, and cutting... think about the height you need for this! Bar stools and variable height chairs can be arranged for other stuff- but that cutting can get to you! especially when you have passed a few more of those zeros!Don't ask how I know!

I don't believe you are near any number with an 0 in it. when I had my last 0 birthday (a few years back) I was very decandent and flew to new York for a few days: it was lovely but I like your idea more. How fabulous to have a space where you don't have to put your machine away all the time!

I have a Sewezi table that I just love. The machine drops down into it giving me a large sewing area. If I need more surface area I just push it up to the dining room table. It doesn't vibrate when I sew fast and it packs away flat and comes with it's own bag and wheels so can be pulled to quilting classes. My husband forgot my birthday this year so I bought this for myself.

You've mentioned a lot that I would have, only thing missing is if you work from books or patterns a lot, I have a spice rack on the wall above my machine which is the perfect size for holding a book open whilst working.

- hooks to hang rulers- what they all said about height of cutting table- light (I'd suggest a dalyght lamp)- a good seat at the right height!- I also have a small space, and I use a couple of the tall CD/DVD racks from Ikea to store my scrap bags and FQs

I bought one of the IKEA counter units that has a place to sit on one side for cutting, it is the right height and also gives me a place to work if need be. I cannot recommend highly enough dropping the sewing machine into the table. This can be built or small tables can be bought. Finally, a place to tack up a design wall is so much nicer than I every imagined, even a smallish space would be lovely. I am so excited for you!

Ooh how lovely and the perfect pressie - and this way you'll also get something small and wrapped up ;) Sounds like you have some great ideas already - I'm still waiting for my sewing room after being here almost 2 years!!

They all sounds pretty good ideas! I'm still sorting out my space (which doubles as the spare room!) - a couple of things that i've found quite handy are the IKEA Bygel rack and hanging pots - good for putting frequently used stuff in and also one of their magnetic knife racks - I use it to hold sewing machine feet when I swap them over (I"m AWFUL at losing things under stuff, and I have a lot of stuff around me when I work :/!) and the odd sewing needle within reach. For my next big '0' birthday I'd really like a super-duper sewing machine.....

I had a big "_0" birthday half a year ago (not sure that it would be the same one though ;-)). Love the present you'll be getting!! I would look at light, storage, work-space (I usually use a lot of table space once I get going), storage, good chair, storage... One handy thing I have is a butcher's block from Ikea that is just the right height for cutting, is easily movable with 2 wheels and exactly the size of my cutting mat... Did I mention storage?!

What a great present this will be! I agree with all of the above and would like to add 'somewhere to store your cutting mat' to the suggestions - I slide mine between the wall and the book case (they're at right-angles to each other!) and it keeps it nice and flat because there's just enough room to slide it in but not so much room that it can buckle. (Complete fluke, though, I didn't design it that way but I wouldn't be without it!) I also think you need somewhere to store your patterns/idea sheets/books and maybe an L-shaped table so that you can sew and then turn 90 degrees to cut (particularly handy when foundation piecing) or use a small ironing board. Oh, and a notice board so you can pin up ideas/bee blocks/to do lists, etc. without them getting in the way. Or a nail a length of string to the wall and buy some mini pegs...

Oh that sounds awesome! As someone else who has no sewing space but the dining table I can tell you that this offer is going to change your life - so green right now. Keep looking at other sewing space pics and keep adding all the little things that you would like. Your husband must REALLY love you (or he wants his dining table back), lol.

When I set up my sewing space I felt very frivolous having a table just for cutting and a table just for sewing, but it fabulous not having to move the machine everytime I need to chop. The only thing I don't love in my sewing space is not having designated ironing space. I have commandeered the ironing board and it hasn't left the room since.I also agree, make a design wall while you can.Congrations on the big 0.E xx

Oh what a great idea! I'm in the dining room room too and my stuff is taking over! I googled 'sewing spaces' and got all depressed for a few days and asked the kids if I could have their playroom - you can guess what they said! I found a lovely bookcase on ebay and forgot to bid on it - doh! But I'm determined to create a nice sewing corner if nothing else! In the meantime we've got a drop leaf table squeezed into the kitchen so that I don't have to pack everything away all the time! Good luck with your space, all the advice sounds good, my dining table is definitely a bit low for cutting, this is something i'll be thinking about if I ever get to order new furniture. :o)

You probably already know about this site but if you don't you might some ideas here http://www.ikeahackers.net/search/label/craftMy fab hubby has just finished hacking an Ikea table for me and I now have my machine recessed - much more comfortable sewing postion.Have fun planning it all!

Oh snap Susan! I'm making a little corner for myself in the playroom *ahem* the newly renamed family room. I'm doing an IKEA job on mine, not having a handy hubbie. I need to factor in a climbing toddler next year too. I want some fabric display/storage space, display space for my craft books. I'm going to get one of those magnetic knife bar things for my scissors etc and a hanging wire for hanging blocks. Among other ideas lol! Oh - and a compact design wall like this: http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2011/04/how-to-make-a-simple-design-wall.html Have fun planning!

As one who also sews on the dining table (a lovely large solid one for all ten of us - which is great for cutting) and who will be having a (bigger?) " 0" birthday later this year I'll be eager to see what you end up designing.

I am a dining table sewer also so a sewing area would be the best present ever!! All of your ideas sound wonderful too. I will have to wait for the kids to move out before I get my own sewing space as hubby and I put a wardrobe together last weekend for one of our sons and it took us all day:)

Did you see my wall nook? I have a pic of it in my flickr sets. Ikea kitchen ware is fabulous, functional and cut for work spaces. You will want to make full use of the wall, so why not mount rails, bins, bars and hangy things for it? I would also suggest fixing all things to an mdf board rather than to the wall, so you can take it with you when you move. Regretting that I didnt do that myself now, lol.

Also think about the logistics of sitting a thin long desk. When you're quilting, you need a big space behind your machine for the rest of the quilt. Will that work with a wall desk?

Oh how exciting! Great idea for the space. I reiterate the cutting table height thing but the L shape return should sort that out. I would add to leave enough space between the wall & something to slide the ironing board & cutting mat away.Trust me I know how spoilt I am with my massive room as I have spent decades in rented spaces with just a dining table to sew on. Pictures on my blog soon.Good luck xox

Best present ever!!! I'd suggest you think about lighting - I have a small section of kitchen worktop set up in the playroom, the idea was that I would use this to free up the kitchen table and save me from having to clear away every day - but the lighting is so bad that I still use the kitchen table :-) good job it was leftovers and not specially installed. Mostly have fun planning :-D

Oh how very cool. I have a little area at the back of our living room. It is liked with ikea bits and pieces, including a Vilka table and deep drawers underneath. I made a foldaway ironing board using the oh fransson tute. Happy planning!

I am so very excited for you. Everyone has made great suggestions and I am not sure how tO add to these. My best advice (from experience) is to (A) look at how you currently work at the dining table and duplicate what works and fix what's broken and (B) look at those great pics you posted and nick the ideas you like, if only in part.

Hi. Good for you. I wouldn't worry too much about having a very deep desk for larger quilts as you can easily use the dining table for a day if needs be. It will be in the same room. Myself and Sarah @fairyfacedesigns had a good walk around ikea recently and it is amazing the amount of small storage options there are for your bits and bobs. I have a board on my Pinterest account and so does Sarah. There are some great ideas. Sarah also suggested to me about having a design wall and I think it's a brilliant idea. So happy for you. Happy 30th xxx

Stop it! That sounds amazing! I would really really miss my cutting table from IKEA. It's adjustable so you could raise or lower it t stand and cut or sit and sew. It's these legs http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/catalog/products/00225293/ and any top you like.

I bought an office chair that is really comfy and adjustable - when I FMQ for instance I raise the seat a little as it stops me getting tense in my shoulders! I could sit there all day - if I had the time.....

A cutting table that's hip height when you're standing. It could just be a cupboard or chest of drawers that's that height. I've taken the old change table chest of drawers into my sewing space and use it for cutting now - perfect height and no more nappies in this house! Lighting too. I sew in a sunroom which is great for light, but has the drawback of being soooo bloody hot and sunny in summer that my fabric fades if its out. But I'm guessing in England it's about getting more light on things.

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